First police officers equipped with body-worn cameras as national rollout begins

Police Scotland’s national rollout of body-worn video cameras is under way as the first officers are equipped with the new technology.

Around 750 officers covering Dundee, Angus and Perthshire, including road policing officers and dog handlers, will be fitted with the devices over the coming weeks.

More than 10,500 Home Office-approved Motorola Solutions VB400 cameras will be issued to frontline officers and police custody staff across the country as the rollout continues.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell has sought to prioritise the introduction of body-worn video cameras since taking command of the force in October 2023.

It is hoped deployment of the cameras will help to de-escalate incidents, improve public trust in policing, reduce complaints and support officer and staff safety, as well as bring wider benefits to the criminal justice system.

Ms Farrell said: “The national rollout of body-worn video has commenced with the first police officers out on patrol in Tayside today.

“All frontline officers and custody staff in Tayside Division will be equipped over the coming weeks.

“During the next 18 months, you will see a gradual increase in officers with body-worn video cameras across Scotland.

“Body-worn video can significantly enhance public confidence and support officer and public safety by providing effective and transparent evidence of police and public interactions.

“The technology will also improve the quality of evidence presented in court to deliver faster justice for victims by increasing early guilty pleas and reducing time spent at court for victims, witnesses and police officers.

“There is strong public and partner support for body-worn video in Scotland and we will continue to explain our use of this important technology including assurance around data privacy and human rights considerations.”

A national rollout was a key recommendation of Lady Elish Angiolini’s independent review of police complaints, which commenced in 2018 and was published in 2020.

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “I am very pleased that the Scottish Government’s record investment in Police Scotland is continuing to support the national rollout of body-worn video for officers and staff.

“Body-worn video can increase public confidence in policing and improve safety for police officers and staff. It can also benefit victims and witnesses of crime by allowing cases to be brought to court sooner.

“The use of body-worn video is supported by a world-leading £33 million Scottish Government initiative for sharing digital evidence from crime scene to court room.

“Digital evidence sharing capability, which is also being rolled out across Scotland, is leading to efficiencies across the criminal justice system, delivering benefits for victims, police officers, prosecutors, defence lawyers, court staff and judges.”

Scottish Police Authority interim chairwoman Fiona McQueen said: “The rollout of body-worn video to frontline officers has been a longstanding aspiration for policing in Scotland and this marks an important milestone in that journey.

“The benefits of this technology are well documented. It will benefit the safety of our officers and the public and wider criminal justice system in terms of the effectiveness of investigations.”

Body-worn video is expected to be introduced to police in the Highlands and islands and the north east this summer, and then the east of the country in the autumn.